Car-coupling.



No. 841,523. PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907.

J. M. HOWELL, J1

GAR COUPLING APPLICATION FILED OGT.21, 1905.

2 SiIEETS-BHEBT 2.

nnirnn stamps JORDAN M. HOWELL, JR... OF DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF' ATENT orricn.

CARY-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15, 1907.

Application filed October 21, 1905. Serial No. 283,795-

To all 7.0710772 it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JORDAN M. HOWELL, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to car-couplers of the type embodying a movable coupling member or knuckle, and has for its objects to produce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character which in practice may be readily manipulated for coupling the cars, one whereby the cars may be automatically coupled, and one which will obviate the necessity for an attendant entering between the cars.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this class in which the coupling-knuckle will be firmly and securely locked in coupling position, one wherein the locking pin or key will remain normally in proper locking position and its complete withdrawal from the draw-head be obviated.

WVith these and other objects in view the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a perspective view of a coupler embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section centrally through the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and showing the knuckle in coupling position. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the coupling-knuckle in uncoupling position. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the knuckle, showing bottom face of the knuckle-arm. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the knuckleoperating member. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the locking pin or key.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the draw-bar provided with a hollow head 2, having a pair of vertically-spaced forwardlyprojecting ears 3, which receive the pivoting axle or pintle 4 of a horizontally-movable coupling member or knuckle 5, pivoted between the ears and having a rearwardly-projecting portion or arm 6, adapted to normally lie within the head and terminating at its inner end in a diagonally-inclined camface 7 and a projecting portion or finger 8, having a beveled face 9.

is a horizontally-movable knuckle-operating member 11, provided with a rearwardly-projecting portion or finger 12, adapted to normally lie within a recess 13 formed in the head 2, said operating member 11 having its outer end rounded, as at 14, and adapted to travel in a curvilinear depression 15, providedin the adjacent face of the arm 6.

Arranged for vertical movement in the head 2 is a locking-pin or key 16,"provided at its lower end with a recess 17, the vertical wall of which is curved to present a cam-face 18, there being also provided adjacent the lower end of the key a laterally-projecting engaging portion 19, while formed on the up per end of the key is ahead 20, adapted for imiting the downward movement of the latter, said head having an upwardly-projecting perforated ear 21, enga ed by a link 22, by which the key is pivota 1y connected to the outer end of a lifting member or arm 23, fiXed upon a rock-shaft 24, journaled in suitable bearings on the buffer-beam 25 of a car 26, to which the device is attached, as illus trated in Fig. 1. The rock-shaft 24 is equipped with a terminal crank-arm 27, provided with a foot-piece or stirrup 28, on which the foot of the attendant may be placed for actuating the rock-shaft, while engaged at its lower end with the arm 23 is a vertical element or rod 29, adapted to be operated from the top of the car for actuating the rock-shaft and raising the pin 16.

In practice the parts normally occupy the positions illustrated in Fig. 3 with the arm 12 of the operating member 11 seated in the recess 13 and the locking member or key 16 seated in the head and in engagement with said arm to prevent movement of the operating member, and the arm 6 of the knuckle engaged with the key and member, whereby the knuckle is maintained in coupling position. l/Vhen it is desired to release the coupler, the rock-shaft 24 is operated either by the stirrup 28 or the element 29 for lifting the pin 16 to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, whereupon the arm 12 of the operating mem ber 11 is released and the knuckle 5 allowed to swing to the position illustrated in Fig. 4:.

When the key 16 is lifted to effect unco upling of the device, the portion 19 of the key comes into contact with the upper wall of the head for preventing escape of the key,

Pivoted in the head2 on a vertical pintle 10 and as the knuckle 5 swings to uncoupling the coupling-heads are brought together, the

position, as seen in Fig. 4, the beveled face 9 thereof rides over and in contact with the curvedface 13 of the pin, and, owing to fricl tional engagement therewith, maintains the pin in elevated condition, while at the same time the inclined face 7 at the rear end of the knuckle-arm 6 comes in contact with the arm 12 of-the operating member, thereby limiting the outward swinging movement of the ggIt-S, as seen more clearly in said figure.

ith the parts in this condition, if a pair of knuckle on one head contacts with the member 11 on the other and swings the same to normal position, during which movement of the member the knuckle 5 is moved to coupling position and the members automatically locked by means of the pin 16.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a simple device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view, it being understood that in attaining these ends minor changes in the details herein set forth may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new is In a car-coupler, a bar having a hollow head, a couplingknuckle pivoted therein and provided with a rearwardly-extending arm, a pivoted operating member designed for engagement with said arm when the knuckle is in coupling position, said member having a rearwardly projecting arm and the head being provided with a recess to receive said arm, a movable key adapted for engagement with the arm of the operating member to fix 'the latter and knuckle against movement,

and means for moving the key to releasing position, said key and knuckle-arm having cam faces adapted to cooperate through frictional engagement for holding the key in releasing position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JORDAN M. HOWELL, JR. 

